Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.0 - Hazardous Materials v3.1 English
1.0 - Hazardous Materials v3.1 English
Framework
(OSHAD-SF)
Code of Practice
Version 3.1
June 2018
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency..................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements ....................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ........................................................................................ 6
3.2 Employees Health and Safety ................................................................................. 11
3.3 Emergency Management and Notifications ............................................................. 12
4. References ......................................................................................................................... 14
5. Document Amendment Record .......................................................................................... 16
(b) The purpose of this CoP is to reduce associated risks to the health and safety of employees,
and the community.
(c) This CoP is not a substitute for any other laws or regulations mandated by the Federal
Government or the Government of Abu Dhabi, or advisory guidance established by other Abu
Dhabi government authorities. It is the responsibility of the Employers to ensure that this
document is read and applied in conjunction with applicable laws, regulations and guidance
relevant to the entity. If requirements of this document conflict with requirements set by
another regulatory authority, employees are required to follow the more stringent requirement.
(d) This CoP does not apply to radioactive sources (Class 7 of the United Nations Model
Regulations, which are not included in Federal Law No. 24 of 1999). Of the materials classified
as explosives (Class 1 in Regulations of the Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 and the UN Model
Regulations), this CoP shall only apply to chemical substances that have explosive properties
but are also used for other applications (e.g. ammonium nitrate as fertilizer).
(c) Employers that import, store, transport, sell, or use hazardous materials shall train all
employees and contractors that package, handle, store, or transport hazardous materials to
a level that is commensurate with their responsibilities. At a minimum, training shall include:
(i) use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (previously known as Material Safety Data Sheets,
MSDS) and/or profile sheets;
(ii) required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous materials;
(iii) properties of and risks associated with hazardous materials;
(iv) storage, handling and decanting requirements;
(v) appropriate disposal requirements;
(vi) actions to take to prevent accidental exposures or releases of hazardous materials;
(vii) incompatible materials and segregation requirements;
(viii) appropriate labeling of hazardous materials and hazardous waste;
(ix) meaning of signs and placards;
(x) specialized training for specific hazardous material management requirements
applicable to the responsibilities of their position; and
(xi) control measures to take if there is an incident involving hazardous materials.
(d) Employers that transport hazardous materials shall train employees transporting hazardous
materials on the following:
(a) Employers that handle hazardous materials shall perform a risk assessment in accordance
with OSHAD-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management. The assessment shall cover all activities,
products and services to identify all hazardous materials that are present, stored or being
handled at the worksite and the risks associated with them.
(b) Employers shall familiarize themselves with the requirements of all Federal and Abu Dhabi
Emirate laws and regulations applicable to the hazardous materials they handle, including but
not limited to:
(i) Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 concerning Protection and Development of the
Environment;
(ii) Federal Regulations for Handling Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes and Medical
Wastes, issued by Cabinet Decree No. 37 of 2001;
(iii) Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi procedures and guidelines applicable to hazardous
materials”;
(iv) current editions of international model regulations / codes of practice ratified by the
United Arab Emirate and came into force;
(v) current editions of international model regulations prescribed by applicable federal or
local laws and regulations or by federal or local Competent Authorities;
(vi) requirements of relevant Competent Authorities and/or SRA’s as identified through
codes of practice, guidelines, permit conditions, notices, information bulletins and
inspection and audit reports; and
(vii) Safety Data Sheets issued by manufacturers of hazardous materials.
(c) Employers shall familiarise themselves with the lists of hazardous materials that are banned
or restricted by applicable laws and regulations. Employers shall ensure they:
(i) do not import, produce, store, export or otherwise handle any banned materials;
(ii) obtain any import permits / approvals required by the relevant Competent Authorities
before proceeding to import any restricted materials; and
(iii) comply in the handling of each restricted material with the corresponding special
requirements and conditions set by the relevant Competent Authorities.
Note: For information on lists of banned and restricted hazardous materials and their relevant Competent
Authorities, visit www.hazmat.ae
(d) Employers shall ensure they have the permits, licenses, approvals, and other necessary
documentation required by the relevant Competent Authorities and/or SRA’s to undertake
their activities.
(e) Employers shall appoint competent persons to oversee the storage, use and disposal of
hazardous materials within the workplace.
(g) Employers shall conduct routine inspections of hazardous materials in storage / use and
replace expired or damaged materials. Expired or damaged materials shall be handled in
accordance with applicable Federal and Local regulations. Unclear or damaged labels shall
be replaced.
(h) Employers shall ensure that expired and waste chemicals and hazardous materials are
disposed of through methods or contractors that are approved / permitted by the Center of
Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, as per OSHAD-SF – CoP – 54.0 – Waste Management.
(i) Employers shall implement appropriate programs for protecting safety and health of
employees working with or near hazardous materials.
(j) Employers shall develop an emergency response plan for incidents involving hazardous
materials. Refer to Section 3.3.
(a) Manufacturers of hazardous materials shall assess and classify materials by reference to
applicable international model regulations (e.g. Globally Harmonized System of Classification
And Labelling of Chemicals), laboratory analysis, expert judgment, and/or weight of evidence
to determine if materials create a:
(i) use the data obtained during the classification process to create a Safety Data Sheet
(SDS) in accordance with applicable international model regulations;
(ii) provide a copy of the SDS with any shipment of the hazardous material offsite;
(iii) as far as reasonably practicable, make an electronic copy of the SDS available to end
users;
(iv) maintain appropriate inventory records;
(v) review and update the SDS on an annual basis; and
(vi) ensure all individual containers or bulk packaging of hazardous materials are labelled
as required by applicable federal and local laws and regulations and / or applicable
international model regulations.
(a) To the extent required by applicable federal and local laws and regulations and /or concerned
federal or local Competent Authorities and / or SRA’s, Importers and Distributors of hazardous
materials:
(i) shall not import any restricted material unless in possession of required import permit(s)
/ approval(s);
(ii) shall not store, transport, dispense, sell, or dispose of any hazardous material unless it
is appropriately packaged and labelled and accompanied by a SDS or equivalent;
(iii) shall maintain appropriate inventory records; and
(iv) shall inform manufacturer’s or suppliers of hazardous materials of local relevant
requirements.
3.1.4 Transporters of Hazardous Materials
(a) For each mode of transport in use, transporters must comply in the receipt, handling,
packaging, labelling, documentation, transport and delivery of hazardous materials shipments
with the requirements stipulated by:
(a) Employers that mix hazardous materials or produce hazardous waste shall:
(i) assess and classify the material / waste as described in clause 3.1.2(a);
(ii) use the data obtained during the classification process to create a profile sheet
equivalent to an SDS However, this document shall be identified as a “Mixed Material
Profile” or a “Waste Material Profile” and not as a SDS;
(iii) provide a copy of the “Mixed Material Profile” or “Waste Material Profile” with any
shipment of hazardous material / waste offsite;
(iv) as far as reasonably practicable, make an electronic copy of the “Mixed Material Profile”
or “Waste Material Profile” available to end users / handlers;
(v) review and update the “Mixed Material Profile” or “Waste Material Profile” on an annual
basis;
(vi) maintain appropriate inventory records; and
(vii) ensure all individual containers and bulk packaging of hazardous materials / wastes are
labelled as required by applicable federal and local laws and regulations and / or
applicable international model regulations.
(b) When not in operational use, all hazardous materials shall be stored in an appropriate storage
facility, ensuring appropriate compatibility risk assessments have been undertaken.
(d) Prior to storing hazardous material / waste, storage facilities shall comply with location,
construction and design with requirements, specifications, guidelines and approval /
permitting requirements of applicable laws and regulations and / or relevant Competent
Authorities and / or SRA’s; including at a minimum:
(i) Federal Regulations for Handling Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes and Medical
Wastes, issued by Cabinet Decree No. 37 of 2001;
(ii) Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi - Guidelines for storage of chemical and hazardous
materials;
(iii) Requirements of the Supreme Petroleum Council with regards to materials, products
and wastes related to the petroleum industry; and
(iv) requirements of the Directorate General of Civil Defence (including latest edition of the
UAE Fire and Life Safety Code).
(e) Employers using hazardous materials, generating hazardous waste, and / or storing
hazardous materials or waste shall have a hazardous materials / waste management system
that includes, at a minimum:
(i) a schematic / plan of any store showing locations of the hazardous materials / wastes
stored, locations of emergency and fire-fighting equipment, and access and escape
routes;
(ii) appropriate storage compatibility risk assessments undertaken;
(iii) limitations on quantities of the materials / wastes stored;
(iv) storage conditions / procedures to be implemented;
(v) an updated and accurate inventory of the materials / wastes stored, including the
following:
name of the hazardous material / waste;
manufacturer of the hazardous material;
location of the hazardous material / waste;
quantity of the hazardous material / waste onsite (can be an average); and
if applicable, expiration date of the hazardous material.
(vi) copies of current SDS’s / profile sheets for all hazardous materials / wastes stored, such
that the SDS / profile sheets are available:
in hardcopy or electronic copy for access by employees and emergency responders;
and
in language/s understood by the workforce.
(vii) an emergency response plan for any store of hazardous materials / wastes (see 3.3).
(a) Employers shall ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that employees and other persons
are not exposed to the health and safety risks from hazardous materials.
(b) Employer shall implement the Occupational Health and Safety Hierarchy of Controls when
developing and implementing hazardous material control measures, as per OSHAD-SF –
Element 2 – Risk Management.
(c) Employees in areas where hazardous materials are being used or stored must be protected
through effective programs for:
(f) To protect their health and safety, employees in areas where hazardous materials are being
used or stored must, at a minimum:
(i) never use smell, taste or touch as means for material identification;
(ii) refrain from smoking;
(iii) refrain from any practice that is risky or incompatible with the hazardous materials, eg,
welding or use of lighters in areas where flammable materials are being stored;
(iv) avoid mixing of unknown or incompatible materials;
(v) always use compatible and appropriately identified portable containers for transporting
even small quantities of hazardous materials;
(b) Hazardous materials storage and handling facilities must perform a risk based identification
of potential emergency scenarios and develop corresponding emergency management
programs and response plans in consultation with emergency management authorities and
other stakeholders. At a minimum, the program and plans thus developed must comply with
requirements of:
(e) Employers shall disclose the ingredients of hazardous materials on request by emergency
responders responding to an incident, licensed medical practitioners treating patients exposed
to the hazardous material, enforcement agencies, and authorized members of the Competent
Authorities and / or SRA’s.
• Federal law No. 39 of 1992 Concerning Production, Import and Handling of Fertilizers
• Federal law No. 24 of 1999 Concerning Development and Protection of the Environment –
UAE, as amended
• Federal Law No. 40 of 2006 Concerning Prohibition of the Synthesis, Production, Storage and
Use of Chemical Weapons, as amended by Federal Law No. 12 of 2009
• Federal Law No. 13 of 2007 Concerning Goods Subject to Import and Export Control
• Federal Regulation for Handling Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes and Medical
Wastes, issued by Cabinet Decree No. 37 of 2001
• Ministerial Decision No. 554 of 2009 Concerning Banned and Restricted Pesticides in the
United Arab Emirates
Preface Deleted 4
EHS changes to OSH Throughout
Minor editorial changes throughout the document
Throughout
without changing requirements.
Clause 3.1.1(b)(iii) deleted 6